1- university of Tabriz
Abstract: (73 Views)
Introduction and Objective: Oxidative stress is caused by excessive levels of reactive oxygen species under stressful environmental conditions. Today, oxidative stress is considered one of the main negative factors affecting the performance of birds in the concentrated poultry industry. Oxidative stress is a major factor in the pathogenesis of several serious diseases in poultry. Therefore, supplementing diets with artificial antioxidants (for example, α-tocopheryl acetate or butyl hydroxytoluene) has become a common practice to reduce oxidative stress. Recently, due to the global trend of limiting the use of artificial substances, the use of plant extracts as natural antioxidants has received increasing attention. Among the plant extracts rich in antioxidants, we can mention fennel and ginger, which have good potential to improve reproductive performance. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of diets supplemented with fennel and ginger extracts on reproductive performance, serum biochemistry and testis histology in Japanese quail.
Material and Methods: A total of 72 Japanese quail birds (60 female and 12 male birds) at the age of 8 weeks were used for this study. The birds were randomly divided among 4 experimental groups. Each group was divided into 4 repelicate with 6 birds in each repelicate in a completely random design. Group 1 received the basic diet without additives and was considered as the control group. Group 2 and 3 received the basic diet with 350 mg/kg of aqueous-alcoholic extract of fennel and ginger, respectively. The percentage of egg production was recorded and calculated by the hen-day method. A total number of 252 unbroken quail eggs were collected during the last week of the experiment and used to evaluate reproductive performance. The eggs were incubated in a normal incubator with suitable conditions (37.5 oC and 60% relative humidity) and the fertility and hatchability were calculated. The level of MDA in blood serum and thigh muscle as an index of lipid peroxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid reaction test. Also, blood testosterone concentration and function of testicular tissue were determined. For testicular histological evaluation and spermatogenic analyses, all male quails were killed on the last day of the experiment. The left testicles were kept in 10% formalin solution for further evaluation. Testicular tissue samples were cut using a microtome (Leica Junc Histocut 820) to a thickness of 7 micrometers and placed on a slide. The stained sections were observed with 400× magnification of an optical microscope (Olympus CX22) and analyzed morphometrically using a computerized image analysis system (Olympus Soft Image Solution GmbH). The obtained data were analyzed using GLM procedure of SAS statistical software.
Results: The results showed that the egg weight and Hugh units significantly increased in the birds receiving the diet supplemented with fennel group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The fertility rate in birds fed with fennel and ginger extract showed a significant increase in comparison with the control group. High hatchability (relative to total incubated eggs) was observed in the ginger group compared to the control group (P = 0.014). Total cholesterol and triglyceride of serum in birds fed with diet containing plant extracts decreased significantly (p=0.006), but the concentration of HDL and LDL and blood alkaline phosphatase not changed (P>0.05). Hepatic transaminases AST, ALT and AST/ALT ratio as indicators of liver cell damage were not affected by fennel extract, but ginger extract treatment caused a decrease in ALT in comparison with the control group. MDA as a lipid peroxidation index was the same in both plant extract groups and had a significant decrease compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Blood testosterone concentration in male quails fed with ginger extract was significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.040). Testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, seminiferous tubule differentiation index and number of spermatogonial cells of seminiferous tubules were not affected by diets containing fennel and ginger extracts (P<0.05). The number of spermatocytes of seminiferous tubules in the fennel extract groups (59.80 cells per 20 tubules) was more than the control group (56.2 cells per 20 tubules) (P = 0.004). The increase in spermation index in the fennel and ginger dietary supplement group (61.8 and 65.90%) was not significant in comparison with the control group (58.9%). The thickness of the germinal layer and cell replacement index of fennel and ginger groups compared to the control group showed a significant increase (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that feeding Japanese quail with ginger and fennel extracts in the amount of 350 mg improves the antioxidant status of the body, concentration of testosterone and spermatogenesis, followed by an increase in sperm production and fertility and hatchability in quail eggs.
Material and Methods: A total of 72 Japanese quail birds (60 female and 12 male birds) at the age of 8 weeks were used for this study. The birds were randomly divided among 4 experimental groups. Each group was divided into 4 repelicate with 6 birds in each repelicate in a completely random design. Group 1 received the basic diet without additives and was considered as the control group. Group 2 and 3 received the basic diet with 350 mg/kg of aqueous-alcoholic extract of fennel and ginger, respectively. The percentage of egg production was recorded and calculated by the hen-day method. A total number of 252 unbroken quail eggs were collected during the last week of the experiment and used to evaluate reproductive performance. The eggs were incubated in a normal incubator with suitable conditions (37.5 oC and 60% relative humidity) and the fertility and hatchability were calculated. The level of MDA in blood serum and thigh muscle as an index of lipid peroxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid reaction test. Also, blood testosterone concentration and function of testicular tissue were determined. For testicular histological evaluation and spermatogenic analyses, all male quails were killed on the last day of the experiment. The left testicles were kept in 10% formalin solution for further evaluation. Testicular tissue samples were cut using a microtome (Leica Junc Histocut 820) to a thickness of 7 micrometers and placed on a slide. The stained sections were observed with 400× magnification of an optical microscope (Olympus CX22) and analyzed morphometrically using a computerized image analysis system (Olympus Soft Image Solution GmbH). The obtained data were analyzed using GLM procedure of SAS statistical software.
Results: The results showed that the egg weight and Hugh units significantly increased in the birds receiving the diet supplemented with fennel group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The fertility rate in birds fed with fennel and ginger extract showed a significant increase in comparison with the control group. High hatchability (relative to total incubated eggs) was observed in the ginger group compared to the control group (P = 0.014). Total cholesterol and triglyceride of serum in birds fed with diet containing plant extracts decreased significantly (p=0.006), but the concentration of HDL and LDL and blood alkaline phosphatase not changed (P>0.05). Hepatic transaminases AST, ALT and AST/ALT ratio as indicators of liver cell damage were not affected by fennel extract, but ginger extract treatment caused a decrease in ALT in comparison with the control group. MDA as a lipid peroxidation index was the same in both plant extract groups and had a significant decrease compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Blood testosterone concentration in male quails fed with ginger extract was significantly higher than the control group (P = 0.040). Testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, seminiferous tubule differentiation index and number of spermatogonial cells of seminiferous tubules were not affected by diets containing fennel and ginger extracts (P<0.05). The number of spermatocytes of seminiferous tubules in the fennel extract groups (59.80 cells per 20 tubules) was more than the control group (56.2 cells per 20 tubules) (P = 0.004). The increase in spermation index in the fennel and ginger dietary supplement group (61.8 and 65.90%) was not significant in comparison with the control group (58.9%). The thickness of the germinal layer and cell replacement index of fennel and ginger groups compared to the control group showed a significant increase (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that feeding Japanese quail with ginger and fennel extracts in the amount of 350 mg improves the antioxidant status of the body, concentration of testosterone and spermatogenesis, followed by an increase in sperm production and fertility and hatchability in quail eggs.
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